Thirty-year-old Ashley Blake of Hudson, N.H., will compete in her first Ironman Triathlon on July 27 in Lake Placid, N.Y., to raise funds for cancer research in honor of her late uncle. SUN/ David H. Brow

HUDSON, N.H. -- A 2.4-mile swim, followed by a 112-mile bike, and then a 26.2-mile run -- the most strenuous athletic competition in the world sounds like torture.

But Ashley Blake, of Hudson, N.H., is up to the task.

Blake, 30, will compete in her first Ironman Triathlon on July 27 in Lake Placid, N.Y., raising money for cancer research in honor of her late uncle, Walter "Herky" McGrade. A longtime Dracut resident and a Lowell High School Athletic Hall of Famer, McGrade died in April after he was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer.

As a result, Blake has joined the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) "Team for Cures," raising funds for myeloma research. Myeloma is an incurable blood cancer and the second most common blood cancer after non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Ashley Blake will compete in an Ironman Triathlon on July 27 in Lake Placid, N.Y., to raise funds for cancer research in honor of her late uncle. SUN/ David H. Brow

The MMRF will have more than 100 triathletes participating July 27, looking to raise more than $750,000. Blake has raised about $5,000.

Q: Why did you choose an Ironman Triathlon?

A: My uncle was always really athletic, and he's been my inspiration toward being an athlete for all of my life. This triathlon is a good test that really epitomizes him.

Q: Why did you choose the MMRA "Team for Cures"?

A: They are for one specific type of cancer, but they really do great work for all types of cancers. And I wanted to do something that would go toward my uncle's legacy and do something that kind of epitomized him. This is a great foundation doing great stuff.

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Q: How often do you need to train to be ready for an Ironman?

A: The amount of hours varies per week, but during the weekdays it's about two sessions each day, and at least an hour each session. Then weekends I might bike for four, five or six hours and then run for an hour or two.

Q: How do you have enough time while working in Boston (as a general manager of Boston Sports Club)?

A: It's something you just got to fit in, and you need to organize your time well. I wake up at 5 a.m. to get a workout in to start the day. I make sure to have protein drinks, electrolyte drinks and power bars ready. A lot goes into it.

Q: What have been some of the more intense events you've participated in?

A: Definitely the rowing events. I've done the Head of the Charles (in Boston) several times. Also, I've done a couple triathlons, but I'm more of a rower historically.

Q: How does that rowing background help with an Ironman?

A: It relates a lot to the swimming, I find, but certainly the mentality of pushing through when you're uncomfortable and don't have an option of giving up. The finish line is where the end is, not when you want to stop.

Q: What's going to be your mentality heading into the Ironman?

A: To race smart, to pace myself, to go according to the race plan, and to go the whole day and finish the course. Whatever I do will be my new personal record because I've never done one before. I'm very excited to give $5,000 to this research organization, and that might be the best part of the day.

Q: When it will be so painful, especially during the marathon, how will you get through it?

A: I'm just going to pound GUs (energy gels) every mile. That's really a reward. My triathlon coach has done a really great job, giving me all these fantastic workouts to get me ready and get me through it. We went up to Lake Placid a few weeks ago, covering 175 miles over the weekend. That was a huge confidence booster.

Q: What's your goal?

A: My goal is to finish and pace myself well. I want to feel good in each event and make sure to get under the cutoff (athletes must complete the 140.6 miles in less than 17 hours to be considered a finisher).

Q: What emotions will you have when you finish?

A: I need to finish first, but I'd be very excited and relieved. I'll be thinking of my uncle through the race. It's a big thing for the family. I see this as his race and not just for me.

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